• Septimaeus@infosec.pub
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    26 days ago

    To know whether any act of prudence or decorum is a feather in one’s cap is first to answer to what end and on whose behalf.

    Examples:

    Both are often invoked in the context of potential loss to those who have the most to lose.

    Self preservation is prudent. Prudence avoids loss of face …of social standing …of strategic advantage, and so forth.

    Decorum avoids offending traditional sensibilities …protects what is sacred …retains political capital …maintains institutional legitimacy.

    So both tend to be elevated as lofty virtues by those with power and authority to lose.

    Anyway I used to think similarly. What disabused me of my regard for such ideals was living among those who prudence and decorum never served.